Liberty Hill, Texas, once a community recognized for its inclusivity, faces division as residents react to the city’s failure to issue a Pride Month proclamation this year. In 2023, Liberty Hill's former Mayor Liz Branigan declared June as Pride Month, a gesture that was met with both applause and disdain. The situation this year has seemingly regressed, leaving the LGBTQ+ community and their supporters looking for answers. "It's just crazy to me how we go from having a lesbian mayor, to now to having a mayor that backs pride, to just not even ... not even acknowledging us. And that's my biggest problem with all of this," Amanda Crossland, a vocal community member, told KVUE.
Last year's proclamation, aimed to openly support the LGBTQ+ community, experienced mixed reactions when many residents booed as it was read out loud. Despite the outcry and opposition, including comments branding the statement as "divisive and irrelevant," Branigan proceeded with the declaration, saying "We oppose hate, abuse, discrimination or bullying of any person." This year, however, amidst expectations of at least an anti-bullying declaration, the council failed to publicly acknowledge either topic, as reported by KXAN.
The absence of any proclamation this year stands in stark contrast to last year's events that saw some community members lining up with American flags and Bibles in resistance, while others clapped in support. Former Mayor Branigan emphasized civic inclusiveness by stating, "We need to do good things for all of our children," while recalling her equitably-minded sendoff for the local school's marching band when it made state competitions. Yet, the silence from current city leaders has prompted Crossland and others to adamantly advocate for the recognition they feel their community deserves and has previously been granted.
While the city government’s stance remains unchanged for now, Crossland, whose son Jaycee tragically took his own life ten days after coming out, has vowed to keep pushing forward. "I mean, there were people lined up on the street with American flags and Bibles. It was wild experience," Crossland recounted speaking to KVUE about last year's proclamation and the reaction it sparked. Despite Liberty Hill Mayor Pro Tem Crystal Mancilla's clarification that a proclamation is not a policy, it's evident that the symbolic weight of the gesture wields significant influence on the community's morale and perception of acceptance or rejection.
Individuals like Crossland, who champion the rights and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community in Liberty Hill, are striving to ensure such proclamations aren't just annual formalities but continual assertions of all residents' worth and dignity. Branigan has previously seen the potential for unity within the community and holds onto the belief that Liberty Hill can come together once more. As community members voice their disappointment and continue to call for change, the city's leadership faces the responsibility of addressing these concerns and fostering an environment of inclusion for every citizen.
